Former Premises Of The Lancashire Watch Company Now Forming Part Of The Prescot Trade Centre

The former premises of the Lancashire Watch Company, now part of the Prescot Trade Centre, is a former watchmaking factory built in 1893. It is currently used for light industrial purposes. The building features a cast-iron frame with concrete floors and brick infill, although the roof material is not visible. It is a long, narrow structure that runs parallel to Albany Street and is accessed by two external stair turrets at the rear. The factory has three storeys and 43 window bays, with the glazing occupying most of the elevation. All windows, except those on the ground floor, have small panes. There are two inserted doors, one of which has concertina shutters. The exterior displays iron stanchions and a pedimented gable wall at the northern end, featuring a parapet with a moulded cornice, blocked round-headed windows, and an oculus. The south gable wall was altered in 1990 due to gate damage. At the rear, there are gabled stair and privy blocks connected to the main range by a short corridor block, with fenestration similar to the front elevation. The interior structure remains intact but has undergone later subdivisions. Watchmaking factories of this scale are rare, and this building is believed to be the only surviving example in Britain, representing the peak of a local industry that gained national significance in the 19th century.